quebec-city Articles

Things to Do, Travel Tips, & Advice

Clubs, bars and cafes make up a vibrant part of Québec City's nightlife scene, with many clustered around rue St-Jean in Old Québec, and Grande-Allée and the adjacent Avenue Cartier outside the city walls. The now trendy and recently rejuvenated Saint-Roch District is also a popular nightlife area. Patrons wanting something more subdued can make it a night out with the performing arts, including symphony and opera. Summer and winter festivals feature international performers providing music, dance and theater, while local rock, jazz and folk musicians perform in bars and cafés year-round.

The only remaining walled city in the Americas north of Mexico, Québec City is like a museum within itself. One of North America's oldest cities, Quebec City is perched atop the cliff-like Cap Diamant and overlooks the scenic St. Lawrence River. With its split level landscape, the town reflects four centuries of history. It was founded in 1608 by French explorer Samuel de Champlain who established a colony in what's now the Lower Town, but the French colony later fell to the British in 1759 following a fierce 20-minute battle on Upper Town's Plains of Abraham.

Québec City provides a ski base unlike any other in North America. Instead of staying in some variation of faux-Alpine condo camp, skiers here can lodge in a 400-year-old walled city. With the natives speaking French, Old Québec feels positively Old World. As the cliché goes, it's like Europe without the jet lag.

Finding a great spot to take photos is not hard in Québec City. Thanks to the bluff-like Cap Diamant, photo ops along the Upper Town can't be beat. From the Citadelle to the Dufferin Terrace, there are dramatic views of the St. Lawrence River and its distant shoreline at seemingly every turn. On the way down to the Lower Town, the views from the Breakneck Steps are of the pedestrian-only rue du Petit-Champlain, the city's oldest street. Spewing fountains, statues and quaint Colonial architecture serve as memorable backgrounds for family photos. Take a riverboat ride for waterside shots of the city, where the foremost landmark, the iconic hotel Le Château Frontenac, reigns among the most popular photo backdrops. Here are our suggestions for the best photo ops in Quebec City.

Parents will find a wide variety of things to do in the Québec City area to keep kids both happy and curious. Strolling the streets of Old Québec with its two and three-century old buildings, fort and cannons can even become a fun history lesson. Popular attractions include an aquarium, indoor amusement park and even a colossal toy store. A summer water park transforms into a snow-rafting wonderland in winter. And don't overlook a riverboat ride along the St. Lawrence River for an exciting and scenic family outing.